Announcement made to stop rumors

The Democratic challenger to Maine Gov. Paul LePage has announced that he's gay, saying he needed to address his sexuality to counter "whisper campaigns, insinuations and push-polls" that raised questions about his personal life.

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"Unfortunately, someone or some group was trying to make this an issue in the campaign for governor and I figured I'd go out... just come right out and say it: yes, I am gay. And now that that's out of the way, let's talk about the issues and how we're going to move Maine forward," Michaud said.

The announcement by the six-term congressman adds intrigue to a three-way race against LePage, the Republican incumbent, and wealthy independent Eliot Cutler.

"If I can bring attention to who I am as an individual and if I can use that attention to bring benefits for the state of Maine, I'm going to do it," Michaud said.

It's unknown what impact, if any, Michaud's disclosure might have in a state where voters approved a gay marriage law a year ago. Michaud supported the measure.

University of Southern Maine political science professor Ron Schmidt said Michaud's announcement may sway a small number of voters but, if 2014 is anything like 2010, a small number could matter a lot.

"There were voters who were mobilized to oppose marriage equality very recently. If they feel like they have more of an incentive now to get to the polls in an election year like next year's will be, that could make a difference," Schmidt said.

If elected in November of 2014, Michaud would be the nation's first openly gay governor. He is one of three openly gay candidates for governor across the country.

Michaud served 11 terms in the state legislature and six in the U.S. House of Representatives before announcing his run for governor this year.

SPECULATION TO CONGRESSMAN MIKE MICHAUD IS HOPING TO PUT YEARS OF RUMOR AND SPECULATION TO REST. THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR ANNOUNCED HE IS GAY. MICHAUD TELLS US HE DECIDED TO COME OUT ONE FULL YEAR BEFORE THE ELECTION TO MAKE THE RACE FOR GOVERNOR ABOUT THE ISSUES - AND NOT HIS PERSONAL LIFE. W-M-T-W NEWS EIGHT'S PAUL MERRILL JOINS US LIVE NOW WITH MORE. FOLKS FROM THE CAMPAIGNS OF REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR PAUL LEPAGE AND INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE ELIOT CUTLER SAY MICHAUD'S PERSONAL LIFE DOES NOT AFFECT THE RACE FOR THE BLAINE HOUSE. MANY VOTERS SAY THE SAME THING... BUT EVERY SINGLE OPINION COUNTS IN AN ELECTION THAT COULD SHAPE UP TO BE AS CLOSE AS THE ONE THREE YEARS AGO. -NATS- TALK TO PEOPLE AROUND LEWISTON ABOUT MIKE MICHAUD'S ANNOUNCEMENT THAT HE'S GAY AND YOU'LL HEAR A LOT OF THIS: "My reaction right off when you told me was: well, so what?" "Doesn't bother me in the least." "It wouldn't make any difference for me." WHETHER THEY'VE SUPPORTED HIM IN THE PAST OR SUPPORT HIM FOR GOVERNOR, SECOND DISTRICT VOTERS SAY THEY'RE NOT CONCERNED ABOUT THE CONGRESSMAN'S SEXUALITY. THE SIX-TERM CONGRESSMAN SAYS HE DECIDED TO MAKE THE ANNOUNCEMENT NOW TO PUT A QUICK END TO WHAT HE CALLED A WHISPER CAMPAIGN ABOUT HIS PRIVATE LIFE. Candidate for Governor:) "Unfortunately, someone or some group was trying to make this an issue in the campaign for governor and I figured I'd go out... just come right out and say it: yes, I am gay and now that that's out of the way, let's talk about the issues and how we're going to move Maine forward." MICHAUD SAYS HE HASN'T GIVEN MUCH THOUGHT TO POSSIBLY BEING THE FIRST OPENLY GAY CANDIDATE TO BE ELECTED GOVERNOR OF ANY STATE EVER. Candidate for Governor:) "If I can bring attention to who I am as an individual and if I can use that attention to bring benefits for the State of Maine, I'm going to do it!" U-S-M POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR RON SCHMIDT SAYS MICHAUD'S ANNOUNCEMENT MAY SWAY A SMALL NUMBER OF VOTERS BUT, IF 20-14 IS ANYTHING LIKE 20-10, A SMALL NUMBER COULD MATTER A LOT. "There were voters who were mobilized to oppose marriage equality very recently. If they feel like they have more of an incentive now to get to the polls in an election year like next year's will be, that could make a difference." MIKE MICHAUD JOINS DEMOCRAT HEATHER MIZEUR OF MARYLAND AS THE ONLY OPENLY GAY MAJOR PARTY CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR IN THE NATION. THE ONLY OPENLY GAY GOVERNOR IN HISTORY WAS NEW JERSEY GOVERNOR JIM MCGREEVEY WHO ADMITTED HIS SEXUALITY IN THE FACE OF A SEXUAL HARRASSMENT SUIT AND THEN RESIGNED FROM OFFICE ONE MONTH LATER. LIVE IN THE STUDIO, PAUL